Sony has announced that firmware update v.2.20 for the PlayStation 3 will bring with it "Blu-ray Disc (BD) Profile 2.0". Translation – it will enable PS3s to run interactive features on Blu-ray movies.
The update is due 'in late March'.
Sony brings two specific features of Profile 2.0 (henceforth to be known as BD-Live) to our attention. The first is downloadable content, which will include: “bonus scenes, shorts, trailers, subtitles, ringtones that can be sent to mobile phones, images, and more.”
The second is interactive, movie-based games. These will be playable by two players locally or online.
Also mentioned is the fact that the update will enhance PS3 and PSP inter-connectivity, allowing owners of both platforms to copy music and photo playlists from the home console to the handheld. We are also told that Remote Play will be extended to enable the use of the PSP as a remote control for music on the PS3.
The update is scheduled for late March, while movies with BD-Live features will be going on sale from next month.
So, does this mean that the Blu-ray camp isn't just resting on its laurels following the downfall of HD-DVD. Clearly it feels there's work to be done in getting non-HD converters to make the upgrade. That said, the only downloadable content being offered that hasn't been getting squeezed onto plain old DVDs in their boxed copies for years is the ringtones. SPOnG also feels obliged to point out that HD-DVD offered online, interactive features last summer.
In addition to all the above, Sony also tells us that the following features will be included in the update:
What the update doesn't bring, however, is in-game messaging.
The update is due 'in late March'.
Sony brings two specific features of Profile 2.0 (henceforth to be known as BD-Live) to our attention. The first is downloadable content, which will include: “bonus scenes, shorts, trailers, subtitles, ringtones that can be sent to mobile phones, images, and more.”
The second is interactive, movie-based games. These will be playable by two players locally or online.
Also mentioned is the fact that the update will enhance PS3 and PSP inter-connectivity, allowing owners of both platforms to copy music and photo playlists from the home console to the handheld. We are also told that Remote Play will be extended to enable the use of the PSP as a remote control for music on the PS3.
The update is scheduled for late March, while movies with BD-Live features will be going on sale from next month.
So, does this mean that the Blu-ray camp isn't just resting on its laurels following the downfall of HD-DVD. Clearly it feels there's work to be done in getting non-HD converters to make the upgrade. That said, the only downloadable content being offered that hasn't been getting squeezed onto plain old DVDs in their boxed copies for years is the ringtones. SPOnG also feels obliged to point out that HD-DVD offered online, interactive features last summer.
In addition to all the above, Sony also tells us that the following features will be included in the update:
· “Resume play” will enable PS3 to start playing a BD and DVD video at the point it was stopped, even if the disc had been removed.
· PS3’s Internet browser will be enhanced: Video files directly linked from a Web page will be able to be streamed, and the browser’s view speed will be improved.
· DivX and WMV format videos that are larger than 2GB will be playable.
· “Mosquito Noise Reduction” will be added as an AV setting in the control panel of the DVD/BD player for improved movie playback.
· PS3’s Internet browser will be enhanced: Video files directly linked from a Web page will be able to be streamed, and the browser’s view speed will be improved.
· DivX and WMV format videos that are larger than 2GB will be playable.
· “Mosquito Noise Reduction” will be added as an AV setting in the control panel of the DVD/BD player for improved movie playback.
What the update doesn't bring, however, is in-game messaging.
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Comments
config 20 Mar 2008 11:10
1/1
“Resume play” - thank fsck for that. I'm very well tired of having to hit select, note the chapter when shutting down. Then having to sit through all the crap at the beginning of a disk and then skip to chapter X when my daughter wants to pick up where she left off. I know PS3 already remembers where you left off when you have autoplay enabled - but I don't want autoplay enabled dammit.
"browser’s view speed will be improved" About time. My iPhone is way faster than PS3 (though still doesn't support Flash)
"browser’s view speed will be improved" About time. My iPhone is way faster than PS3 (though still doesn't support Flash)